Alpaca Shearing Fun Time!

As many of you know, we have been working toward getting our own homestead in which to raise fiber animals, such as sheep and goats.  We were not sure what we thought of alpacas, but recently were invited to an alpaca shearing.  Kaitlin and I had the day off, so off we went to check it out.  

We were immediately put to work - Kaitlin helped with the fiber collection and cleaning in between shearing, and I helped handle ropes.  It was not only interesting to work with the animals, but to see how the animals are sheared, how best to shear for good fiber, and how they were handled and kept.  Plus the shearers were very cool guys that have traveled all over the country (and world) shearing alpacas, so there were many stories to hear and much to learn from them.

They look pretty silly to me after they have been sheared...

They are laid down and with a pulley system, we made their legs taught so they couldn't hurt themselves while getting sheared.

Pete and Nev were great shearers!  So much fun to work with!

In fact, the shearers, Kaitlin and I all got along so well, they invited us to help out with a few other days they had of shearing in the area.  I had the days off, so I joined them the following Friday and Monday.  I loved the opportunity to see how other places were set up and how they dealt with their animals.  And I met another new friend who also came along for some shearing fun.

Baby alpaca getting a little ride!

Then on Monday, since it was Memorial Day, Ric and Kaitlin had the day off, so they joined me (after they slept in) at our final shearing.  We did 38 alpacas and 1 llama.  We had a lot of fun, got to enjoy great company and food, and got some fiber for Kaitlin to spin.  

Ric helping hold one of the alpaca.  We put a sock on the mouths of the ones that like to spit.  And some of them make the craziest, horror movie kind of sounds!

We are definitely interested in getting a few alpaca now that we worked with them.  In fact, we might even help train some of the local alpacas so they are more used to people.  Which I must say would be a pretty sweet gig!

We can't wait for next year's shearing to roll around to see our new friends, get more fiber and have just an all around random yet good time!  Stay tuned for more on what we make from the llama and alpaca fiber we got, too!

Ash

Time goes by way too fast!

Well, every time I think that 'this week was craziness', then the next week shows the last one up.  It was another one of those weeks where I wish that I had an assistant....lol.

On Tuesday I made a trip have meetings in Bend and had a nice trip.  However, I find it so hard to justify all that drive time...I wish we had a train that went there so I could just work.  That probably would have helped me not get so behind this week.  But on the drive home I stopped to get a few pretty pics of one of the rivers.

It was so pretty!  If I hadn't been alone, I would have wandered down to the water, but I thought better of it and took a few more pics from afar.  I just love how it looks like something from a fantasy novel....

Then on Wednesday I took a trip down to the Ashland/Medford area to meet some work folks down there.  It was a great trip, and it totally took me down memory lane.  My hubby and I used to go there on day trips from where we lived in southern Oregon.  I love Ashland - and one of my favorite parts is Lithia Park. It is a big, beautiful park with a stream flowing through it, right in downtown Ashland.  Ashland is also where they do wonderful Shakespeare plays, and my hubby and I went to one there on our 1st anniversay.

Here is a pic of Lithia....

I love the little bridge!  It was such a pretty day, and I was not missing the pollen that has been killing me and my sis in Eugene!

Here is another pic of the park.

This one taken from another little bridge over the stream.

The rest of the week was a blur.  But we had a great weekend.  Yesterday, my hubby and I volunteered for one of the groups that I love, the Bus Project at an event in the park for gay pride month.  It was a lot of fun.  Then today we went down to the fairgrounds to check out the Alpaca Show and the Black Sheep Gathering. The whole thing was all about fiber and cool animals...hehe.

Here is my hubby getting a kiss from his new alpaca friend...

I like how the other alpaca is watching in the background....hehe

And here is the kind of goat I want!!  I made a decision today that I want a piece of property that is big enough to have 10 chickens (so 7 more), 2 angora bunnies (I am getting them soon!!), 2 goats like these guys, and a garden. (And of course my dog and cat.)

Kinda blurry head shot, but is it not adorable?  They are pygora goats.  And they were so sweet and just think....I could have fiber, milk for goat cheese and they would eat my weeds! hehe

Gonna crash now.  This week is looking to be another crazy week, with another trip to Bend planned for Wednesday and then a trip to Portland Friday thru Sunday.  Good thing my hubby can hold down the fort for me!

Have a great week!

Ash

This week-

Even though I caught a cold, it has been a great week!   Last Saturday we went to visit my parents on the Oregon Coast. It was super windy and rainy, and the power went out for almost all of Sunday!  But we had fin anyway, played Simpsons Uno and talked.  Monday there was enough of a clearing that we could go to the beach for a few....

High tide!  This is my hubby playing on a tree that was swept in.

Then I came home and had to be a couch potato for much of the time I was not at work.  But Thursday eve Ric and i bought our dog a backpack so he can carry stuff when we go out running!  So excited!  Not sure what JB, our dog, thinks yet....

My dog, JB, in his new back pack :)

Friday we went to the local Good Earth home show, and had a blast!  I love seeing businesses working to be more green, and orgs trying to help people become greener.  I bought about $50 worth of seeds for my upcoming garden (www.territorialseed.com), found some adorable plant markers made from old silverware and glass (paneinthegrass.com) and Ric bought me a new metal waterbottle with an adorable owl on it!  And speaking of owls, the Birds of Prey exhibit was there and they had owls....they are sooo cool!  They also had alpacas....

I want one!

Yesterday, I felt so accomplished!  I worked in the yard, did a run to the dump, had coffee with a friend and then went out and canvassed for Measures 66 & 67.  If you live in Oregon and have not voted, I think these are VERY important and they need to pass.  We are looking at about $800 million in budget cuts if they do not pass.

But another thing that I realized yesterday that I love about canvassing, other than the obvious fact that I am helping a cause I care for, is that I love snooping...lol. It is a great way to see how other people have done their houses, their animals, their yards...etc.  I love it!

And finally, today I worked a little, then bought potting soil for the seeds I need to start.  Ric and I are going to go buy the new Wii Fit Plus :) and then out for bowling with friends....overall I would say it has been a pretty great week and a half!